ATHENS, Ga. – All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, that includes the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team's special 2021 season.
A record setting and memorable Spartan campaign concluded with a 8-4 setback to Western Kentucky in an elimination game of the Athens Regional at Jack Turner Stadium on the University of Georgia campus Saturday.
Years from now when members of the 2021 softball team gather for reunions, look through scrapbooks and share stories; they will be proud of all their accomplishments during an unforgettable season of highlights, records, rallies and magical moments. The Spartans terrific season ended with a 34-17 overall record.
Add in the challenge of playing through a global pandemic, the Spartans headed back home to North Carolina with their heads held high. After all, UNCG was one of 64 programs out of over 300 Division I institutions that earned the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament this season.
If you ever wanted to know what the 2021 Spartans were all about, they provided a concise snapshot during an explosive four-run fifth inning that featured terrific at-bats, clutch hits, and three-run homer from sophomore Maycin Brown.
Brown's 10th blast of the season occurred after Jordan Gontram's pinch-hit RBI single that scored Jasmine Palmer with UNCG's first run in program history in three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Trailing by eight runs and three outs away from being run-ruled, the Spartans didn't quit. Palmer led off the fifth with a walk. Brooklyn Maxwell, who had two hits against Duke, did the same thing to set the table for the memorable inning.
The following Spartans played their final games: Breanna Butcher, Katie Stettler, Hannah Stiltner, Melanie Darges, Kayleigh Willis, and Palmer. They leave a tremendous foundation of success for future generations of Spartans.
Some of the returnees next season include Brown, who got UNCG's first hit of the contest leading off the fourth inning – a ringing double in the centerfield gap. Sophomore pitcher Morgan Scott, who was named the SoCon Pitcher and Freshman of the Year.
After allowing a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning to Kennedy Sullivan and Taylor Sanders, respectively, Scott settled down and kept Western Kentucky silent for a while. The Hilltoppers took advantage of a huge two-out error in the fourth inning. They tallied four unearned runs to expand their lead to 8-0.
Scott, who retired the final seven batters she faced, became the fourth pitcher in program history to record at least 200 strikeouts in a single season. She finished the season with 210. She was also the seventh pitcher with at least 20 wins in a single season.